New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-03
SENATOR sHERMANs INDICTMENT

The noint of Senator Shermars speech In ILL
no;s ia that the elections throughout the large
part of the country have not been carried
honestly, but for years by constant
fraud and in deliberate violation OF
the laws of the United States; that
majority in the popular branch OF Con-
gress and in the electoral college has been Sc
cured by these methods, and that President
elected by violation of law now sits in the chair
of Washington.
This is grave charge. which infinitely tran
sends in Importance all questions regarding
the accuracy of civil service examinations, or
the propriety of certain appointments or re-
movals But the Senator also shows that the
President, who owes his place to deliberate
and persistent violations of law, has
also been the first of all American Presidents
to reward lawbreakers and traitors by ele-
waiting great number of them to high places
of trust. and especially BY selecting such per-
sons in preference to all others to represent
this Nation in foreign lands The disgrace
thus brought upon the American name could
hardly be regarded with indifference by loyal
citizen, and yet it is matter OF far less conse-
duence than the deliberate encouragement
given to those who resist and defy the laws OF
the United States even to this day, by
the appointment of such persons to places
of large responsibility. When lawbreakers
are deliberately selected to enforce the law, the
conclusion is irresistible that the Government
means, if it can, to break down and defeat the
laws by which it is rightfully bound. Thus,
the selection of men like Garland-them-
selves active participants in the overthrow
of self government in Southern States
to enforce laws of the United States
designed to secure freedom of cleo
tons and honesty in counting the votes, con-
stltutes the strongest possible announcement
to repetition of the crime by which the cleo
ton of President Cleveland was made possible.
If the people of this country were careful or
their own honor. if they were careful or the
interests of the Nation, if they were care
full to preserve republican institutions
| for their children, they would con-
slider this array of facts with the deep
est solcitude. They would feel that no other
question could be more important than to de-
termine whether this grave charge IS true, and
If true, how a repetition OF so dangerous
crime is to be avoided. Clearly the time must
come when elections by the people will cease TO
be accepted as representing the will of the
reward from those in Office. Clearly all discus
sion of other questions, relating TO
the selection of minor officials. or to
details of public policy, domestic or foreign
becomes of trihing importance when 1t Is con-
sidered that no decision which the people may
reach, after ever so much serious dlscusslon
can be expected to control their Government
if small number of audacious lawbreakers
please to-Gefy the laws and the will Of the peo-
pie. and to count in tools of their own.
| Yet it is the fact, obvious to all men, that q
large body of citizens meets this grave charge
with no serious defence with no attempt to
controvert the facts, with no denial OF the
gravity of the Issue. but simply with sncers
about "the bloody shirt" 1t is for the
people to determine whether they wish a
question of such importance put aside by
sneers which in effect confess the truth OF
the charge. and the impossibllity of meeting 1t
| in any other way.